Calendar of Saints and Observances
The Church gives us many ways to stay close to God each day. One of those ways is through the calendar of saints. This calendar helps us remember people who lived holy lives. It gives us days to honor them and learn from them. Some of these saints are well-known. Others are only known in certain places or groups.
The calendar of saints is not just a list. It is a part of how we live our faith every day. Each saint has a special story. Their feast day helps us think about how we can live like them. Some saints were martyrs. Some were teachers. Some cared for the poor. All of them followed Jesus.
The calendar of saints also helps connect us with the whole Church. When we celebrate these days, we join with Catholics all over the world. We pray the same prayers. We read the same stories. We ask the saints to pray for us.
This calendar changes from place to place. Some saints are honored everywhere. Others are remembered only in certain countries or communities. In this article, we will look at both kinds. We will also look at some days that are not about saints but are still part of how Catholics mark the year.
Click on a month below to jump to a list for that month:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- Days That Are Not About Saints
The dates on this page match the universal dates. In some cases for the liturgical calendar in the United States and in other countries, the observance is moved to a different date.
Saints in the Lectionary
Some saints are part of the Church’s lectionary. The lectionary is the book that tells us which readings to use at Mass. When a saint is in the lectionary, we celebrate their feast with special prayers and Bible readings. These are called “memorials,” “feasts,” or “solemnities,” depending on how important the day is.
These saints are celebrated by the whole Church in a clear and public way. Their names are on Catholic calendars. Their stories may be read in homilies. Their prayers are included in the Mass. This is how we remember Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Therese of Lisieux, or Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These days are not just personal devotions. They are part of the Church’s public prayer.
Not every saint is included in the lectionary. Only a smaller number of saints are. These are usually saints with a strong and lasting influence on the Church. Many were important in the early Church. Others had great impact in more recent times.
The U.S. bishops decide which saints are included in the calendar of saints used in this country. Some saints are added by Rome and are celebrated around the world. Others are added by bishops’ conferences in each country. This keeps the calendar both universal and local.
Learn more about the lectionary and lookup specific entries here.
Saints Not in the Lectionary
Many saints are not found in the lectionary. But they are still loved and remembered by Catholics. Some are known mostly in one country or city. Others are known mostly by a religious order or group of people. These saints are still part of the calendar of saints, just not in the public liturgy of the whole Church.
Some examples include Saint Dymphna, who is often prayed to by those with mental illness. Or Saint Philomena, who was popular in the past and is still honored in many places. There are also many saints from places like Africa, Asia, and Latin America who are not in the lectionary but are honored in their home countries.
People may pray to these saints on their feast days. Parishes or schools may have special devotions. Families may celebrate with prayer at home. Some saints are patrons of specific causes, like Saint Isidore for farmers or Saint Cecilia for musicians.
Even if a saint is not in the lectionary, the Church still recognizes their holiness. Some of them have feast days listed in Catholic calendars or prayer books. Others are found in the Martyrology, which is a long list of saints remembered each day. These saints are still part of our Catholic life.
The Roman Martyrology also includes many people from the Old Testament. Some of the prophets, like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah, have feast days listed. These people lived long before Jesus, but the Church honors them because they listened to God and helped prepare the way for Christ. We remember them as holy examples of faith and trust in God. Their lives are part of the long story of salvation that leads to Jesus.
January
January 1
January 2
January 3
- Pope St. Anterus
- St. Geneviève
- St. Joseph Mary Tomasi
- Pope St. Telesphore
- Malachi the Prophet (OT) or December 18
January 4
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
January 9
January 10
January 11
January 12
January 13
January 14
January 15
- St. Mauro
- St. John Calybite
- St. Paul of Thebes, First Hermit
- Habakkuk the Prophet (OT) – or December 2
January 16
January 17
January 18
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
January 24
January 25
January 26
January 27
January 28
January 29
January 30
January 31
February
February 1
February 2
February 3
February 4
February 5
February 6
February 7
February 8
February 9
February 10
February 11
February 12
February 13
February 14
February 15
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
- St. Nestor
February 26
February 27
February 28
March
March 1
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 12
March 13
March 14
March 15
March 16
March 17
- Saint Patrick
- St. John Sarkander
- St. Joseph of Arimathea – or August 31
March 18
March 19
March 20
March 21
March 22
March 23
March 24
March 25
March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30
March 31
- St. Balbina
- St. Benjamin
- Amos the Prophet (OT) or June 15
April
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
April 5
April 6
April 7
April 8
April 9
April 10
- St. Michael De Sanctis
- Ezekiel the Prophet (OT) or July 23
April 11
April 12
April 13
April 14
April 15
April 16
April 17
April 18
April 19
April 20
April 21
April 22
April 23
April 24
April 25
April 26
April 27
April 28
April 29
April 30
May
May 1
May 2
May 3
May 4
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 8
May 9
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 17
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
June
June 1
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
June 6
June 7
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
- St. Germaine Cousin
- St Vitus
- Amos the Prophet (OT) or March 31
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
June 27
June 28
June 29
June 30
July
July 1
July 2
July 3
July 4
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (to be canonized in 2025)
- St. Elizabeth of Portugal
- St. Ulrich of Augsburg
July 5
July 6
July 7
- Bl. Ralph Milner
- St. Fermin – or September 25
July 8
July 9
July 10
July 11
July 12
July 13
July 14
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
- St. Camillus de Lellis (outside the US)
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
- St. Bruno of Segni
- St. Camillus de Lellis (in the US)
July 19
July 20
July 21
- St. Lawrence of Brindisi
- St. Praxedes
- Daniel the Prophet (OT) or December 17
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
August
August 1
August 2
August 3
August 4
August 5
August 6
The Transfiguration of the Lord is also observed on August 6.
August 7
August 8
August 9
August 10
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 15 is also the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
August 16
August 17
August 18
August 19
August 20
August 21
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 25
August 26
August 27
August 28
August 29
August 30
August 31
- St. Raymond Nonnatus
- St. Nicodemus
- St. Joseph of Arimathea – or March 17
September
September 1
September 2
September 3
September 4
September 5
September 6
September 7
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 14
September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
- St. Fermin – or July 7
September 26
September 27
September 28
September 29
September 30
October
October 1
October 2
October 3
October 4
October 5
October 6
October 7
October 8
October 9
October 10
October 11
October 12
- Bl. Carlos Acutis (to be canonized in 2025)
October 13
October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
- Hosea the Prophet (OT) or July 4
October 18
October 19
- Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and Companions, Canadian Martyrs
- St. Paul of the Cross
- Joel the Prophet (OT) or July 13
October 20
- St. Acca of Hexham
October 21
- St. Gaspare of the Bufalo
- St. Hilarion
October 22
October 23
- St. John of Capistrano
- St. Severinus Boethius
October 24
October 25
- Sts. Crispin and Crispinian
October 26
- St. Cedd
October 27
- St. Frumentius
October 28
October 29
- St. Narcissus of Jerusalem
October 30
- St. Germanus of Capua
October 31
- St. Alphonse Rodriguez – or Oct 30
November
November 1
November 2
November 3
- St. Martin de Porres
- St. Sylvia
November 4
- Saint Charles Borromeo
- Sts. Vitalis and Agricola
November 5
- Sts. Domninus, Teothimus and Companions
- Sts. Zachary and Elizabeth – or September 23
November 6
- St. Leonard, Hermit
November 7
- St. Willibrord
- St. Prosdocimus
November 8
- Pope St. Adeodatus I
November 9
- Sts. Mary and Neone
- St. Theodore
November 10
- Pope Saint Leo the Great
- St. Andrew Avellino
November 11
- Saint Martin of Tours
- St. Bartholomew of Grottaferrata
November 12
- St. Josaphat
- St. Diego
November 13
- St. Agostina Pietrantoni
- Pope St. Nicholas I
November 14
- St. Serapion of Algiers
November 15
- St. Albert the Great
- St. Joseph Pignatelli
- St. Malo
November 16
- St. Margaret of Scotland
- St. Gertrude
- St. Agnes of Assisi
- St. Joseph Moscati
November 17
- Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
- St. Gregory Thaumaturgus
November 18
- St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
- St. Roman of Antioch
- St. Odo abbot of Cluny
November 19
- St. Matilda
- St. Abdia
- Obadiah the Prophet (OT)
November 20
- Pope St. Gelasius I
November 21
- Bl. Mary of Jesus Good Sheperd
November 22
November 23
- St. Clement I
- St. Columban
- Bl. Miguel Agustín Pro
- St. Felicitas
November 24
- Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, Vietnamese Martyrs
- St. Chrysogonus
November 25
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- St. Moses of Rome
- St Peter of Alexandria
- Bl. Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi
November 26
- Pope St. Siricius
- St. Leonard of Porto Maurizio
- St. Sylvester
November 27
- St. Vergilius of Salzburg
November 28
- St. James of the Marches
November 29
- St. Saturnin
November 30
December
December 1
- St. Charles de Foucauld
- St. Eligius of Noyon
- Nahum the Prophet (OT)
December 2
- St. Bibiana
- St. Pimen
- Pope St. Silverius
- Habakkuk the Prophet (OT) – or January 15
December 3
- Saint Francis Xavier
- Zephaniah the Prophet (OT)
December 4
- St. John of Damascus
- St. Barbara
December 5
- St. Sabas
December 6
- Saint Nicholas
- St. Asella
December 7
December 8
- The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Pope St. Eutychius
December 9
- Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
- St. Leocadia
- St. Syrus of Pavia
- St. Peter Fourier
December 10
- Our Lady of Loreto
- St. Maurus
- Pope Saint Gregory III
December 11
December 12
December 13
- Saint Lucy (Lucia)
- St. Ariston of Porto
December 14
December 15
- St. Valerian of Africa
December 16
- Haggai the Prophet (OT)
- St. Adelaide
December 17
- Daniel the Prophet (OT) or July 21
- Sts. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
- St. John of Matha
- Bl. Hyacinthe Cormier
December 18
- Malachi the Prophet (OT) or January 3
- St. Gatianus of Tours
December 19
- Bl. Pope Urban V
- Pope St. Anastasius
December 20
- St Philogonius of Antioch
December 21
- St. Peter Canisius
- Micah the Prophet (OT) or January 15
December 22
December 23
December 24
- St. Tarsilla
- St. Irma
December 25
- St. Anastasia of Sirmium
- Bl. Mary of the Apostles
- All of the Holy Ancestors of Christ (OT)
December 26
- Saint Stephen, Protomartyr
- Pope St. Dionysius
December 27
- Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
- St. Fabiola
December 28
December 29
- Saint Thomas Becket
- King David (OT)
December 30
- Pope St. Felix I
December 31
- Pope St. Sylvester I
- Sts. Donata, Paulina and Hilary
- St. Melany
Days That Are Not About Saints
Some special days in the Church year are not about saints. But they are still important. These days may not be in the lectionary. They may not be part of the official calendar of saints. But they help us remember key parts of Catholic life.
Date | Link to Observance with Resources, Reflections, etc. |
|---|---|
January 1 | World Day of Peace |
January 18–25 | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
January 22 | |
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Word of God Sunday |
Sunday following February 2 | World Day for Consecrated Life |
2nd Sunday in February | World Marriage Day |
February 8 | International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking |
February 11 | World Day of the Sick |
4th Sunday of Easter | World Day of Prayer for Vocations |
June 22–29 | Religious Freedom Week |
Week of July 25 | Natural Family Planning Awareness Week |
September 1 | |
Sunday after Labor Day | World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly |
September 9 | Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities |
3rd Sunday in September | Catechetical Sunday |
Last Sunday in September | World Day of Migrants and Refugees Priesthood Sunday |
1st Sunday in October | Respect Life Sunday |
Last Sunday in October | World Mission Sunday |
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | World Day of the Poor |
Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe | World Youth Day |
These observances are sometimes added to the petitions at Mass. They may be the focus of a homily, a school activity, or a parish event. Though they are not feast days, they still help form our spiritual life. They help us see what the Church values today.
Why Some Saints Are Celebrated and Others Are Not
Not every saint becomes part of the lectionary. There are many holy men and women. But only a few are celebrated in the liturgy by the whole Church. This does not mean the others are less holy. It just means the Church must choose which saints to highlight in a clear and public way.
The Church looks at many things when deciding to add a saint to the calendar of saints. Is the saint known around the world? Did the saint’s life help shape the Church? Does the saint’s story still speak to people today? These questions help Church leaders decide.
Some saints are known only in small groups. But their witness is still strong. The Church encourages devotion to these saints even if they are not in the lectionary. Their stories are shared in books, websites, and personal devotions. Families, schools, or religious orders may honor them in their own ways.
Adding a new saint to the general calendar takes time. Bishops and the Pope must agree. The Church wants to make sure the saint’s life is a good model for all. That is why not every canonized saint is on the calendar used at Mass.
Living With the Calendar of Saints
The calendar of saints is not just for priests or bishops. It is for every Catholic. We can use it in our daily prayer. We can learn about the saint of the day. We can ask for that saint’s prayers. We can try to live like them, even in small ways.
Some families light a candle or say a prayer on a saint’s day. Some people read a short story about the saint. Schools may have little celebrations. Parishes may hold special Masses or devotions. These practices help bring the calendar of saints into everyday life.
We do not need to follow every feast day. But we can choose saints who speak to us. Maybe you are drawn to Saint Joseph. Or maybe to Saint Oscar Romero. Over time, we build a small circle of saints who feel close to us.
The calendar of saints helps us live the year with meaning. It reminds us that we are not alone. We walk with the saints. They help us follow Christ. They remind us of what is possible with faith, hope, and love.
Questions and Answers
What is a calendar of saints?
A calendar of saints is a list of days when the Church honors different saints. It helps us remember and celebrate holy people throughout the year.
What is the difference between saints in the lectionary and other saints?
Saints in the lectionary are celebrated at Mass with special prayers and Bible readings. Other saints may be honored in private prayer or in certain places but are not part of the public liturgy.
Why are some saints not in the lectionary?
There are many saints, and the Church cannot include all of them in the liturgy. Some are better known in certain countries or groups. Others have a strong local devotion but are not widely known.
Can I still pray to saints who are not in the lectionary?
Yes. You can pray to any saint the Church has recognized. Many people have private devotions to saints not found in the lectionary.
How are saints added to the calendar of saints?
Saints are added by the Pope or bishops. They choose saints who have made a big impact on the Church and are known by many people.
How can I use the calendar of saints at home or in school?
You can read about the saint of the day, say a short prayer, or talk about their life. Some people make small celebrations or light a candle.
Is the calendar of saints the same in every country?
No. Some saints are celebrated everywhere. Others are only celebrated in certain countries or regions. Each country’s bishops choose some saints for their own calendar.
Where can I find the calendar of saints?
You can find it in Catholic calendars, on Church websites, or in apps and books about the saints.
Do I have to follow the calendar of saints every day?
No. It is not a rule. But it is a good way to grow in faith and learn from the lives of the saints. You can follow it in a way that fits your life.
Walking with the Saints Every Day
The calendar of saints is a gift from the Church. It helps us stay close to God by remembering those who followed Jesus with faith and love. These holy men and women give us real examples of how to live as Christians. Some were bishops and martyrs. Others were mothers, teachers, or workers. All of them show us that holiness is possible in everyday life.
Not all saints are celebrated in the same way. Some are remembered in the Mass with special prayers and readings. Others are honored quietly in homes, schools, or small communities. Whether public or private, each celebration connects us to the great family of the Church.
There are also days that focus on prayer, peace, the sick, and other important things. These days are not about saints, but they remind us of our call to serve, to teach, and to pray. They help us live the Gospel in daily life.
The calendar of saints gives us many chances to stop, reflect, and pray. It helps us walk with the saints through the seasons of the year. It reminds us that we are not alone in our journey of faith.
Your Turn
Use the calendar of saints in your home, school, or parish. Pick a few saints to learn about this month. Say a simple prayer on their feast day. Look for ways to honor them in small ways. These little moments can make a big difference.
We’d love to hear how you use the calendar of saints. Do you have a favorite saint? Does your family or parish celebrate any special days? Share your story in the comment section below. Let’s learn from each other and walk together with the saints.
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